Santa Fe College Nursing Program Review

Santa Fe College was established in 1965 as Santa Fe Junior College to offer public higher education to residents of Alachua and Bradford counties in Florida. Today the college offers certificates, associate and bachelor degree programs. Though one of the youngest colleges in the Florida College system, the college has over 18,000 students enrolled in for-credit classes. Santa Fe College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Review of Santa Fe College Nursing Degree Programs

The ADN programs at Santa Fe College are approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Nursing programs at Santa Fe College seek to provide services to the community in addition to educating its students. Nursing programs at Santa Fe College are housed under the Health Programs unit.

Santa Fe College Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Associate of Arts in Nursing

Nurses can earn an Associate of Arts Degree in Nursing, which is most ideal for students that are intent on pursuing a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program directly after completing their general education.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) in Nursing

General ADN Program

The ADN program at Santa Fe College prepares nurses to take the national certification exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN), the NCLEX-RN. Students in the ADN program are assigned a faculty mentor in hope of increasing their chance of continuing with and graduating from the ADN program. Students are encouraged to seek advice from their mentors as often as needed, whether for study habits a difficult course or career opportunities. In addition to taking a nursing entrance exam test, admission requirements include a 2.0 overall GPA and the completion of at least 6 pre-requisite courses with a grade of “C” or better. Pre-requisite courses include General Psychology, Statistics, College Algebra, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, College Composition and a course in fine arts or humanities. The ADN program is approximately 2 years.

Bridge ADN Programs

The ADN program also offers a Bridge Program for LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) and Paramedics who have earned health certificates and would like to complete an associate’s degree in nursing, the LPN to RN and Paramedic to RN programs. In addition to the admission requirements listed for the general ADN program, prospective students for the LPN to RN program must submit a copy of their current RN license and have at least 1 year of work experience. Prospective students seeking to enroll in the Paramedic to RN program should submit a copy of their Paramedic license and have at least 2 years of experience as a paramedic. Both programs are 72 credits. Because the program is accelerated students are required to demonstrate basic nursing competence in the first week of the program to maintain enrollment in the degree program.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program

The BSN program prepares nurses for a career in nursing with a comprehensive approach that covers nursing leadership, theory, research, culture and nursing care across the lifespan. Students may take most courses online although 3 courses, two including a clinical practicum and the other a lab based course must be taken in person. Admission requirements for the BSN program include a 2.5 overall GPA, an associates degree from an accredited program, a current RN license and completed prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better. Prerequisite courses include Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Psychology or Sociology, Developmental Psychology and Nutrition. In order to earn the BSN qualification, students must demonstrate foreign language competency (at least 2 years at the high school or college level) if foreign language study has not taken place students must take foreign language courses.

Santa Fe College Certificate Programs

Practical Nursing Certificate

The Practical Nursing Certificate prepares nurses to take the first step in their nursing career through a vocational educational certificate. The program prepares nurses to sit the certification exam to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), NCLEX-PN. Admission requirements including taking the nursing entrance exam test by Kaplan and earning at least a 55% in both the reading and math sections. In addition, prospective applicants must demonstrate college level-proficiency in core college subjects of math, English and reading. Students can demonstrate proficiency through a standardized achievement test such as the SAT or a grade of “C” in better in a college course. The program is 3 terms and 1,350 hours.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program

The CNA program prepares students to work in an entry level support role and sit the state certification exam to become a nursing assistant. Specifically the program prepares CNAs to serve in a nursing home or extended care facility. Students will complete a clinical practicum at a nursing home. The program is 165 hours and can be completed in one term.

Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Program

The Patient Care Assistant Program includes certificates for both the CNA and Home Health Care Aide. The program is 290 hours and also prepares nurses to sit for the state certification exam to become a CNA. An excellent feature of this program is the ability to complete clinical practicum in 3 settings, a nursing home, extended care facility and home setting in order to increase the student’s employability across different fields.

Home Health Care Aide

The Home Health Care Aide program trains students to provide care in a home setting. The program also includes a CNA certificate, which will aid in providing additional employment options for nurses. Students complete a clinical practicum both at the nursing home and in a home healthcare setting.

Nursing Lab at Santa Fe College

The nursing lab at Santa Fe College provides nurses with an opportunity to practice their nursing skills as much as necessary before being evaluated. The lab offers lifelike simulation opportunities as well as individual assistance from lab personnel when necessary. Students must make a reservation to use the equipment, which guarantees the equipment will be available when it’s needed. Study guides, videos and audio learning aides are available. In some cases items may be checked out overnight for student use.

Contact:
Santa Fe College
3000 NW 83rd Street
Gainesville, FL 32606

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